Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $750 per month in San Juan vs $1,687 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,143 per month in San Juan vs $2,535 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,535 per month in San Juan vs $3,383 in Medellin, rent included.

San Juan is about 56% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

San Juan sits 45% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 ₱245

$7.89 COP 24.2K

-49.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.12 ₱1,056

$44.53 COP 136.5K

-61.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.90 ₱179

$9.29 COP 28.5K

-68.78%

Cappuccino

$2.81 ₱173

$2.90 COP 8,874

-3.10%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱41.69

$1.81 COP 5,541

-62.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ₱21.15

$1.55 COP 4,741

-78.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱63.6

$3.25 COP 9,962

-68.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 ₱101

$5.88 COP 18.0K

-72.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ₱102

$1.38 COP 4,230

19.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 ₱69.5

$2.45 COP 7,517

-53.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 ₱53.1

$1.51 COP 4,617

-43.05%

Eggs

$1.83 ₱113

$2.78 COP 8,516

-34.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$9.05 COP 27.7K

-42.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 ₱220

$10.65 COP 32.6K

-66.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.34 ₱452

$14.63 COP 44.8K

-49.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 ₱145

$3.97 COP 12.2K

-41.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$1.38 COP 4,219

5.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.45 ₱151

$2.30 COP 7,056

6.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 ₱67.2

$2.02 COP 6,185

-46.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.69 ₱104

$2.09 COP 6,390

-19.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.63 COP 4,996

10.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 ₱39.37

$1.08 COP 3,313

-40.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 ₱56.8

$1.25 COP 3,843

-26.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.78 ₱171

$4.03 COP 12.4K

-31.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.91 ₱487

$13.47 COP 41.3K

-41.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₱62.1

$1.60 COP 4,904

-36.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 ₱110

$3.00 COP 9,189

-40.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.39

$1.18 COP 3,611

-78.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.02 ₱802

$79.9 COP 244.9K

-83.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.79 ₱48.91

$1.61 COP 4,920

-50.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.83

$2.13 COP 6,533

-88.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 ₱119

$8.52 COP 26.1K

-77.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.8

$1.35 COP 4,142

-14.81%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.5K ₱1.3M

$28.3K COP 86.8M

-24.13%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.2K ₱1.2M

$35.7K COP 109.4M

-46.08%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$142 ₱8,780

$151 COP 463.8K

-5.92%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.51 ₱895

$13.10 COP 40.1K

10.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.17 ₱1,551

$32.30 COP 99.0K

-22.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.44 ₱2,246

$46.33 COP 141.9K

-21.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.35 ₱268

$17.26 COP 52.9K

-74.80%

Cinema Ticket

$5.38 ₱331

$6.43 COP 19.7K

-16.33%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$74.4 ₱4,589

$835 COP 2.6M

-91.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,527 ₱155.8K

$8,887 COP 27.2M

-71.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.90 ₱1,781

$89.3 COP 273.7K

-67.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.70 ₱1,214

$55.3 COP 169.5K

-64.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.0 ₱4,316

$137 COP 418.5K

-48.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 ₱3,454

$109 COP 335.1K

-48.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 ₱14.7K

$952 COP 2.9M

-74.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 ₱11.0K

$668 COP 2.0M

-73.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 ₱31.6K

$2,020 COP 6.2M

-74.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 ₱21.6K

$1,148 COP 3.5M

-69.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,166 ₱133.5K

$3,696 COP 11.3M

-41.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$929 ₱57.3K

$1,586 COP 4.9M

-41.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$239 ₱14.7K

$625 COP 1.9M

-61.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

10.43

-35.28%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for San Juan: August 18, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $239 in San Juan versus $952 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 162% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in San Juan versus $45.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $176 vs $297 – making San Juan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

San Juan vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 125%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,126 per month in San Juan and $2,530 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Juan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in San Juan and $45.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $750 in San Juan and $1,687 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in San Juan, where all-in costs run around $750, than in Medellin at $1,687. In San Juan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Juan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with San Juan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.